SHINNECOCK HILLS, N.Y.— Tens of thousands of golf fans have come to eastern Long Island this weekend to watch the world’s best golfers battle stiff Atlantic winds and winding fairways at the 126th U.S.
Open at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.While golf’s traditions have changed little since the tournament’s inception in the late 1800s, the AI boom has given rise to a new generation of tools to help players understand the game’s rules and fans enjoy major tournaments.To help players navigate golf’s rules and receive quick, clear advice, the sport’s governing body in the U.S.and organizer of the U.S.
Open, the U.S.Golf Association, recently launched a chatbot-like tool called Rules AI.“Rules AI is about meeting golfers where they are and giving them access to answers that are as good or better than our own experts,” said Craig Winter, the USGA’s senior director for the rules of golf, in an email to NBC News.
“The USGA has a deep respect for golf’s tradition, but that shouldn’t prevent us from improving how people experience playing the game.”The USGA has established 24 foundational rules that cover everything from equipment requirements to penalties players should face if they hit their ball into a sandy bunker.Yet interpreting those rules can be almost as challenging as trying to whack the ball toward the flagstick.What should a player do if their ball comes to a halt on a paved (and unplayable) road? What happens if a golf ball ricochets off an alligator’s head into a pond?Rules AI debuted in a pilot phase in late May, allowing players at certain golf clubs to experiment with the technology via one of the USGA’s mobile apps.
For example, users can type in a question about whether they are allowed to move a ball out of a patch of dirt due to construction or how many clubs they are allowed to carry in their bag, receiving a written ...